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Chinatown, Los Angeles, Calif.

 
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Title
Chinatown, Los Angeles, Calif.
Description
Corner of Gin Ling Way and Sun Mun Way leading out toward West Gate on Hill St; Tuey Far Low Restaurant, front sign reads:"Chop Suey, Chinese Dishes, Tuey Far Low" and sign above octagonal window reads:"Cocktails" large red and yellow "Chop Suey" sign on corner; along right side of street are "GunLing Gifts" and "Forbidden Palace" restaurant; people strolling and sitting on benches; awning next to GunLing Gifts reads:"Chinaware" bench in foreground reads:"Myers Bros."
Physical description
1 postcard : Color ; 9 x 14 cm.
Subject
Chinese Restaurants--California--Los Angeles; Decoration and ornament, Architectural--California--Los Angeles; Gift shops--California--Los Angeles;
Note
The original Los Angeles Chinatown began in the late 1800s as a small settlement on Calle De Los Negros, between El Pueblo Plaza and Old Arcadia Street, and expanded east across Alameda Street. Suffering from absentee landlords and a lack of municipal services and code enforcement, the area was in decline when the city forced residents out and demolished it to make way for the new Union Station Terminal. Two new Chinatowns were created: China City, a tourist attraction, complete with rickshaw rides, brainchild of Christine Sterling, founder of Olvera Street; and New Chinatown, a business and residential neighborhood created and funded by the Chinese community under the leadership of Peter Soo Hoo. Both opened to great fanfare in 1938. Tuey Far Low, first located in old Chinatown on Alameda and Marchessault, was the site of a fundraising banquet in the early 1900s in support of Sun Yat-Sen's fight for a Chinese republic. On April 22nd, 1937, Peter Soo Hoo, Herbert Lapham and others met there to form a corporation to build New Chinatown. Tuey Far Low reopened on Sun Mun Way in the Central Plaza in 1938. New Chinatown was framed by two gates, or pailou. The West Gate, on North Hill Street opens onto Gin Ling Way and is adorned with a plaque commemorating the part played by the Chinese in building the railroads.
Collection Location
Werner von Boltenstern Postcard Collection
Type
Geographic Location
Chinatown (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Language
eng
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